Proving that the map from a topological space to a fiber bundle is open.

1.6k Views Asked by At

There are two pieces to a question, the first:

Let G be a group acting on a space $E$. Show that the quotient map $E \rightarrow E/G$ is open.

The second:

Let p : E → X be a fiber bundle. Show that p is an open map.

My thoughts are the following. First we see what a "fiber" is: If for E and X as topological spaces we let $p:E \rightarrow X$ be a mapping, $U \subseteq X$ and $U$ is a neighborhood of $x$, then $p^{-1}(x) \in E$ where $p$ is called the fiber over $x$.

The fiber bundle is one such that:

$\forall y \in E \space\space \exists U \subset X \text{ where }\phi_{U}:p^{-1}(U) \text{ is homeomorphic to the product space } F \times U \text{ where } F \text{ is the fiber bundle }$

Now I address the second piece first as I have a better idea of why this would be true, however could use some clarification. On this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber_bundle

It says: "Every fiber bundle is an open map, since projections of products are open maps." While I don't see why the projections of products are open maps (unless they are just referring to topological spaces as top. spaces are both open and closed), I am wondering if p is an open map as by the definition of a fiber bundle we have that since the product space $F \times U$ is open as $U$ is an open neighborhood of $x$ then since the pre-image $p^{-1}(x) \in E$ is homeomorphic to $F \times U$ then $p$ has to be an open map.

As for the first part, since $E$ is a Topological space and hence it is open, then if I mod out some closed set it would still be open. Is there more to it than this?

Thanks,

Brian

1

There are 1 best solutions below

1
On BEST ANSWER

The first part of your question is confusing only because by definition quotient maps are open...

Because $p$ is a surjection, $p^{-1}(U)$ for $U\subset B$ (open) as defined cover $E$ and is open ($p$ is continuous). From the property of the fiber bundle, $p|_U$ is open because $p=\pi \circ \phi_U$, where $\phi_U$ is a homeomorphism, which makes it open due to the composition of open maps is open (and if you don't get why $\pi$ is open, try proving that a projection map is always open. It is essentially by the definition of the product topology.)

So now take an arbitrary open set $O$ in $E$. We want to show $p(O)$ is open. For $x\in p(O)$, there exists a $U_x$ such that $p^{-1}(U_x)$ is an open set. From the above discussion we know the restriction of $p$ to any $p^{-1}(U_x)$ is open. Because $p^{-1}(U_x)\cap O$ is open, $ p|_{p^{-1}(U_x)}(O)$ therefore is an open set. To finish observe $$p(O)= \bigcup_{x\in p(O)} p|_{p^{-1}(U_x)}(O).$$ This implies $p(O)$ is open.